Breakfast 3: The dieter may eat 1 1/2 cups of Total
brand cereal, along with 1/2 cup of nonfat milk and
1/2 cup ofcalciumenriched orange juice.
Breakfast 4: This breakfast allows the dieter to eat
1 small whole-wheat bagel that is topped with 1 ounce
of melted fat-free cheddar cheese, along with 1/2 cup
of prune juice.
Breakfast 5: Breakfast 5 allows the dieter to eat 1
1/2 cups of cooked Wheatena brand cereal along with
1/2 cup of nonfat milk.
After the dieter eats one of these breakfasts, only the
chicken soup may be consumed for the rest of the day.
Function
The chicken soup diet does not make any claims
about how much weight a dieter can lose during the
seven days of the diet, although it is usually implied
that the dieter will be able to lose a substantial amount
of weight. It does not have any exercise or healthy
living recommendations. Some versions of the diet
suggest that it would be a good diet to use if a dieter
wanted to ‘‘jump start’’ a more comprehensive dieting
plan, or if a dieter needed to lose a large amount of
weight quickly for an upcoming special event.
Benefits
There are many benefits to losing weight if it is
done at a safe, moderate pace through a combination
of healthy eating and exercise. There are many con-
ditions for whichobesityis considered a risk factor,
including type II diabetes and heart disease. The risk
of these diseases may be reduced through weight loss.
This is especially true for very obese people who are
generally thought to be at the greatest risk. This diet,
however, is not considered appropriate for long term
moderate weight loss.
The chicken soup diet may have some other bene-
fits in addition to the claim that it can allow a dieter to
lose a large amount of weight in a short amount of
time. The soup is usually low in calories and contains
many different vegetables, which are an important
part of a healthy diet. Eating a soup like the one in
this diet may be able to help dieters feel more full
without eating very many calories, which may make
it easier for some dieters stick to a healthy reduced
calorie diet.Precautions
Anyone thinking of beginning a new diet should
consult a doctor or other medical practitioner. Require-
ments of calories, fat, and nutrients can differ from
person to person, depending on gender, age, weight,
and other factors such as the presence of diseases or
conditions. The chicken soup diet does not allow very
many different foods, and although the soup may be
healthy, it is unlikely to be able to provide all the
vitaminsandmineralsneeded for healthy adults each
day. Pregnant orbreastfeedingwomen should be espe-
cially cautious if beginning a very restricted diet like this
one because deficiencies of vitamins and other nutrients
can negatively impact a baby that is receiving its
nutrients from its mother.Risks
There are some risks associated with any diet. The
chicken soup diet does not allow the dieter to eat very
many different foods each day. This means that it is
unlikely that the dieter will get enough of all vitamins
and minerals required each day for good health. Any
dieter thinking of beginning this diet may want to
consult a healthcare provider about a multi-vitamin
or supplement that would be appropriate to take while
on this diet to help reduce the risk of deficiencies. This
is especially true for any dieter considering following a
very limited diet for an extended period of time. Sup-
plements have their own associated risks.Research and general acceptance
The chicken soup diet has not been the subject of
any significant scientific studies. In 2000 researchers at
the University of Nebraska Medical Center did labo-
ratory research that showed that chicken soup mayKEY TERMS
Dietary supplement—A product, such as a vitamin,
mineral, herb, amino acid, or enzyme, that is
intended to be consumed in addition to an individ-
ual’s diet with the expectation that it will improve
health.
Mineral—An inorganic substance found in the
earth that is necessary in small quantities for the
body to maintain a health. Examples: zinc, copper,
iron.
Obese—More than 20% over the individual’s ideal
weight for their height and age or having a body
mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater.
Vitamin—A nutrient that the body needs in small
amounts to remain healthy but that the body cannot
manufacture for itself and must acquire through
diet.Chicken soup diet